inspect your own tanks

[elan]

my shop never did eddy for my Catalinas, I was always under impression it was required for old alloy only and not for 6061

 

[Slamfire]

All my Aluminums get the eddy test every year as part of the vis. Maybe it's unnecessary. That said, the test already caught one of my tanks with with a fractured neck. If I were to be doing my own vis inspections I'd be worried about the liability of having a neck rupture disfigure or kill somebody while doing a gas fill. IIRC the failed tank had its first factory hydro stamp from 1973. It was a US Divers/Luxfer. So you maybe perfectly safe with the newer alloys.

 

[101recon]

The Catalina web site has a page with a little related info.
Eddie Current Inspection

 

[Can't swim]

I fill my own tanks but, use a fire extinguisher dealer in WV for hydro.
I found this web site very helpful.

http://www.luxfercylinders.com/downloads/docs/scubaguide.pdf

 

[garyfotodiver]

I spend $12 per tank at a LDS for an annual. That includes the fill.

Worth it.

 

[Rhone Man]

Or if you are feeling really cheap, you can just buy VIP stickers and slap them on. I very much doubt anyone would notice.

 

[aquaregia]

While I recognize that getting the VIP done is cost effective, I like doing stuff myself where possible. If my stuff's gonna break and leave me in a bad place, I'd rather it was my fault.

 

[wedivebc]

If you aren't using any 6351-t6 aluminum cylinders there is no requirement for an eddy current test. In fact I don't know if most eddy current machines work properly with 6061 aluminum.

 

[fppf]

Or if you are feeling really cheap, you can just buy VIP stickers and slap them on. I very much doubt anyone would notice.

The visual inspection is there for your safety and the safety of the people that fill your cylinders. If you do this and someone gets hurt its your neck. Any cylinder that is used in the water has the remote chance of getting water in it. You also breath from that cylinder, its a really good idea to know what is in it. You would not believe the crap that can get into cylinders. It only takes once to have a really bad day. This is not a money grab like some think. I will admit though some shops charge a really high fee for this service.

I spend $12 per tank at a LDS for an annual. That includes the fill.

Worth it.

It is a question of scale, plan and simple. The PSI course takes a day to complete and costs about $300 with a recert every 3 years for about $100. So if you have a bunch of cylinders, say 10, at $12 a pop every year, in 3 years it costs you $360. So you save money in year 3, and then every year after that. In my area a VIS costs about $15 so the pay off is a little more. If you have more cylinders it gets even better.

But if you have 1 or 2, even 5 cylinders, have it done.

As for eddy current testing, the only true requirement is for the 6351 cylinders after a hydro. That said most shops wont even fill them anymore depending on your location. If they do fill them most want to see and eddy current test done once a year.

As for the test its self, you actually need 2 different testers. There is a tester for each alloy. You can not use the tester for 6351 cylinders on the newer 6061 alloy, or the other way around. Steel cylinders do not get eddy current tested. How ever there are other tests such as die pen and magnaflux that can detect hair cracks in steel.

 

[elan]

fppf do you know if anyone teaches PSI VIP Inspection in Niagara region or say withing 150 miles around ?